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Today is Thursday October 14, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the Book of Mark, chapters 4-5. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-14
In today's Bible reading we will read about, the parable about the seed of God's Word, Jesus calming the storm, Jesus casting the devil out of a man, a woman healed by touching the hem of His garment, and Jesus bringing life back to a little girl.

Today's Message: Need A Blood Transfusion?
When you stop and think about how vital blood is to our bodies you can imagine how lifeless it would be if it is not working properly. For instance, I have type O blood and for a long time I felt lifeless and tired and could not understand why. It took years for me to learn that it was my blood, I was not giving it the proper nutrients it needed to function properly. Now, whenever I get tired and lifeless I take a look at my diet for the past few days and pretty much realize that I was lacking those nutrients that give life to my blood. We all need the right nutrients to give life to our blood, perhaps that most important nutrient of all is Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. ” - John 6:53,54.

How can we eat from the flesh of Jesus and drink His blood? Here is the answer: “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” -John 6:63. Our flesh will give out one day, but our spirit is what gives us life eternally, God's Word is the spiritual food we need and Jesus is who gives life to it, those who believe and accept Jesus into their lives have eternal life with Him. When we call on Jesus to save us it is like we get a blood transfusion, all of the bad blood gets washed away and is replaced by fresh, clean blood. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” - I John 1:7.

Just like blood types respond differently to different types of food, people respond differently to Jesus. Not everyone is going to accept and believe that Jesus can give life to them, Jesus explains how people respond to Him through seeds that are sown into different types of ground. “The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.”- Mark 4:14-20.

The seed is the Word of God, everyone in their lifetime will have the Gospel presented to them at least once, some will reject it completely and never know how life giving it is, some will receive it, but not hold on to it or will get caught up in the cares of the world and lose that liveliness, and there are those who hear it, receive it, and know how vital it is to life. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - I John 5:10-12.

The key here is believing, the people that God used to illustrate His miracles to were no different than you and I, they were sinners, some the worst of sinners, but these people believed that Jesus could save them and it was, in fact, their belief that saved them. “Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” - I Peter 1:21.

Believing leads to faith, faith leads to hope, hope leads to miracles, which is the case of the woman Jesus healed that had an issue with her blood. “When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”- Mark 5:27-34.

This woman got an instant blood transfusion the second she touched just the hem of His garment. Jesus will heal anyone who comes to Him. One thing I would like to mention is that yes, there are times when God will allow premature death to those who do believe. While we may never understand in our hearts why someone has passed away at a young age, God has a reason for it. It is not to punish or hurt us or the person, we have no idea what is in the future of these people and what God is actually saving them from by taking them home to be with Him. I have a brother that just passed away in March, he was very healthy, then all of a sudden he got sick and within five days he had died. I believe it was not only in God's will that He came home with Him, but his will as well. He was at peace with God and did not want to suffer any more, so, God said you do not have to suffer anymore, you can come home. Right now, I imagine he is up there with Jesus eating his favorite foods and listening to the most amazing music in his mansion. “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” -John 14:2.

Need a blood transfusion? Jesus will give life to everyone, one way or another, but first, we must believe and accept His blood transfusion. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:9,10. Praise God! Are you already saved, but feeling lifeless? You are still saved, Jesus died once on the cross, that means you still have His blood in you. To revive it, just repent and seek Him. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:7. Praise God!


Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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